Gatun Lake

 Good morning,

Gatun Lake is located in the center of the Panama Canal.

Today's images are courtesy of our friend, Erica, who is aboard Serenade of the Seas cruising through the Panama Canal from East to West. 

 There are many commercial ships passing through the Canal.

 The weather was beautiful!  Note the passengers on the bow of Serenade at the bottom of the image.

The jungle along the Canal is dense.  One can only imagine the trials that faced the builders of the Canal.

Stay tuned!  Tomorrow we'll have more Canal images.

All the best,

Lois

Gatun Locks - Panama Canal

 Good morning,

We're going through the Gatun Lock in the Panama Canal via these images courtesy of our friend Erica who is aboard Serenade of the Seas this week. 

 Watching the transit process is fascinating!

 The ship has been going "uphill" between the Atlantic Ocean and Gatun Lake.

A commercial vessel is coming through the lock in the opposite direction.

As Serenade is exiting the lock, another commercial vessel is approaching to begin the process of passing through the locks to the Atlantic Ocean.

This is great fun!  Kjell and I did this while aboard Splendour of the Seas while he was Splendour's Chief Engineer.  Erica's images bring back all the great experience of those trips!

Thank you, Erica!

Lois

Entering Panama Canal Locks

 Good morning,

What a beautiful day to transit the Panama Canal!

These images were taken by our friend, Erica, who is aboard Royal Caribbean's Serenade of the Seas this week. 

 Electronic mules to help guide ships through the Canal replaced actual mules long, long ago.

 It is fascinating to stand on deck or on your balcony to watch the mechanics of the Canal.

Notice "Ohio" at the bottom of the electronic mule above.  The original mules were made by General Electric.

Serenade of the Seas is traveling from the Atlantic to the Pacific.  Tomorrow's images will be of Gatun Lock and the Gatun Lake in the center of the Canal.

Stay tuned!

Lois

Approaching the Panama Canal

 Good morning,

The repositioning cruise of Serenade of the Seas continues.  

Today's images show the approach to the Panama Canal from the Atlantic side.

 We have a tug escort...

 ...and can now see the first lock ahead!

This is the last view of the Atlantic side behind our ship.

We'll go through the locks tomorrow!

Stay tuned,

Lois

Bunkering Fuel in Panama

 Good morning,

Serenade of the Seas bunkered fuel in Colon, Panama, before beginning the trip through the Panama Canal. 

 Erica took these images from her balcony.

This is a huge bunker barge.  I've seen them all sizes in different ports around the world.

This bunker barge looks so clean and new.  I remember an old rusty one in the port of St. Petersburg, Russia.  There was a young man sitting next to an open hatch on the top of the barge while the fuel was being transferred to the Splendour of the Seas.  The young man was smoking.  Scary stuff.

Stay tuned.  Tomorrow we'll be entering the Panama Canal.

This is fun!

Lois

Dockside in Colon, Panama

 Good morning,

This is dockside in Colon, Panama.  That is Royal Caribbean's Serenade of the Seas in the upper right corner.  

Our daughter, Catherine, and her friend, Erica, will board Serenade to transit the Panama Canal. I'm receiving images from both Catherine and Erica for which I am very grateful.  

Tomorrow will be more in port.

Watch this space!

Lois

Lunch at Chops

 Good morning,

Catherine and Erica are on board Serenade of the Seas.  Their first stop was for lunch at Chops Restaurant. 

 This is the view of the port from Chops before sailing.  Of course, the Panama Canal is used by all types of vessels, especially commercial so it's a working port.

Stay tuned!  More to come!

Lois